How do I apply for graduation under House Bill 91?

If your expected year of graduation was 2008 or before...

If your expected year of graduation was 2009 to present...

When did this law take effect?

The law took effect upon the Governor’s signature on March 30, 2015.

Which tests are included in the law?

The law includes all subjects, forms and versions of the Georgia High School Graduation Tests (English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies), Georgia High School Writing Test, and Basic Skills Tests (Reading, Mathematics, and Writing). These tests are inclusively referred to as “graduation tests” throughout this document.

How far back does this law cover?

The law covers all graduation tests, beginning with the Basic Skills Test which was administered to students who enrolled for the first time in grade 9 on or after July 1, 1981.

What should a local school system do if a student currently enrolled has met all graduation requirements except for passing any of the graduation tests?

The law states that on or after the effective date of the law, students shall no longer be required to earn a passing score on the graduation tests to earn a high school diploma if the student has otherwise met all state and local graduation requirements.

Can a student who is no longer enrolled in a Georgia public school, and did not graduate for the sole reason that he or she did not pass all of the graduation tests, still receive a Georgia regular high school diploma?

Yes, individuals no longer enrolled in a public school who were denied a high school diploma solely for not achieving a passing score on any of the graduation tests and met all other local and state requirements may submit a petition to the local school system to determine eligibility to receive a high school diploma under O.C.G.A. § 20-2-281.1.

What does the law require local school systems to do to accommodate petitions from individuals who are no longer enrolled in a public school and are seeking a regular high school diploma pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 20-2-281.1?

A person who is no longer enrolled in a Georgia public school and who previously failed to receive a high school diploma in this state or was denied graduation solely for failing to achieve a passing score on one or more portions of the graduation tests may petition the local board of education of the school system in which he or she was last enrolled to determine his or her eligibility to receive a high school diploma, pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 20-2-281.1, based on the graduation requirements in effect when the student first entered ninth grade.

If my petition is approved, what graduating year will my diploma display?

Your Diploma will reflect a graduation date of March 30, 2015.

What should a student do if he or she moved from the school system where he or she went to high school?

An applicant should make a petition with the school system where he or she last attended high school in Georgia.

Who will determine when all of the graduation requirements have been met?

The local school system will make the final determination based on the state and local graduation requirements that were in effect when the student entered ninth grade.

Is there a deadline for petitioning the local board of education?

No.

Can a special education student who was previously awarded a special education diploma or a certificate of completion only because he or she had not passed one or more sections of the graduation tests still be awarded a high school diploma?

Yes, as long as all other state and local graduation requirements were met to qualify for a regular education diploma.

Can an individual who earned a General Educational Development (GED) certificate and did not receive a regular education diploma solely for not passing the graduation tests submit a petition for a regular education diploma?

Yes, if the petitioner was a student who previously failed to receive a high school diploma in this state or was denied graduation solely for failing to achieve a passing score on the graduation tests.